Birchbox Review September 2013

Birchbox arrived today, much to my delight.

Birchbox September 2013

The items this month were pretty awesome!

Birchbox September 2013

First up: Benefit Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss.

Benefit Sugarbomb Lip Gloss

Sugarbomb Packaging

Sugarbomb in action

I can't really figure out what this smells like.  It's sweet smelling, but doesn't have much of a taste.  The smell isn't unpleasant, but its not my favorite.  I do like the gloss, though.  It's a very flattering nude color and glides on really smoothly.  This is not a sticky gloss.  I don't really like the tube-style applicator, it's easy for me to squeeze out too much and smear it all over the place by accident.

I was definitely happy to receive a benefit product this month! I love this brand and I wish I saw more of them in sub boxes.

Sample size is 6.5 mL, full size (15 mL) retails for $16, making the sample worth $6.93



Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive

Inside the Packaging

This is a mask/peel you let sit on your face for 10 minutes before washing off.  It says it will reduce fine lines and lighten hyperpigmentation, but we will see about that.  It doesn't smell terrible! It doesn't even have much of a smell at all! yay!  I really like Juice Beauty products, but their scents are so hit or miss with me.  If it smells bad, it smells really bad- to the point where I can't use it.

Full size is $39 for 60 mL.  The 7 mL sample size is worth $4.55.




Racinne Ultimate Youth Power Eye Serum

Racinne Eye Serum

Racinne Eye Serum Tube

This is a thin, clear serum that has a faintly chemical smell like bug spray or sunscreen would.  This eye serum claims to diminish dark spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.  Again, we will see.  I don't currently have an eye cream, so I will try this for a while and see if I notice a difference.  Mostly I have darker circles under my eyes from lack of sleep, and it would be nice if this helped get rid of those.

Birchbox is selling 10 mL for $32, making this 5 mL sample (half-size!) worth $16.



Coola Mineral Sunscreen, Unscented Matte Tint

Coola Unscented Matte Tint Mineral Sunscreen

I'll have to wait to try this tinted, matte moisturizer with SPF.  I like Coola, I've received two of their products from different boxes, but I feel a little disappointed that Birchbox has already sent me something from them! I got their cucumber sunscreen a few months ago.  Oh well, I'm interested to try something tinted from them and see how it looks on my ghostly-white skin.

The sample size is 3 mL.  50 mL is $36, making the sample worth $2.16.  Geeze, I'll have to put the extra in a little bottle or something! That's kinda expensive for a little cardboard packet.  I wish they had sent this sample in a little tube like the other ones I have gotten.


Ruffian Nail Polish in Delirium

Ruffian Delirium

Free-handed Ruffian Manicure with Delirium over no-name silver polish

Last but not least, everyone got a nail polish from Ruffian this month.  Birchbox had some fans pick the names for these polishes.  I got Delirium, a bright metallic blue-purple.

If you want to vote for this entry in Birchbox's ruffian manicure contest, the link is here.

These polishes are selling on Birchbox for $10 (0.17 fl.oz.) making them expensive!  Even Julep is less expensive!


Total Value: $39.64

This is the highest value I've gotten in a long time from Birchbox! What's more, I'm actually pleased with my samples this month.  Not bad for their third anniversary.



Birchbox is $10 per month, including shipping.  You will receive 4-6 sample sized items based upon a profile you fill out.  You can review each item on their site for 10 Birchbox points.  When 100 points are accumulated, you are credited $10 to spend in their online store.  If you would like to sign up, you can use my referral link here.  Signing up with my link will start you off with an extra 50 points! (I will also get a bonus 50 points!)

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.
This post contains a referral link.  If you use my link to sign up for Birchbox, you will get an extra 50 BB points (worth $5), as will I.

Retrospective: Ipsy May 2013

Ipsy May 2013: Month 9; Spring Fling

Ipsy bag May 2013
Photo from Ipsy

This is a wind-breaker-esque fabric with a blue and orange chevron print.  It's actually pretty cute and I think whoever ends up getting it filled with goodies this Christmas will like it, too.

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Fig
Photo from Ipsy

Oh, Juice Beauty.  You and I have such a love/hate relationship.  I love some of your products, but hate the smell of most of them.  This is no exception.  I like the texture of this gloss, it is not too thick or thin and is not sticky at all.  I love the shimmer and gloss it gives to my lips, and it has fairly decent staying power for a lip gloss.  I hate the smell/taste and the color looks terrible on me.  It looks brown.  I don't wear brown lip colors for a reason.  They look awful with my pale skin and blonde hair.  Just awful.  I don't have any friends with the right coloring for this, so I'm going to hold onto it for now.  Maybe I'll make a friend down the line who will be able to wear it!

Full size, 8g, $15.  Also available in a set of 4 for $48 ($12/each).

Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Bronzing Body Butter
Photo from Ipsy

I was super excited to see this in my bag! I know a lot of people were disappointed they got a bronzing lotion, but not me.  I'm very pale and plan on staying that way, but I don't want to blind people with my legs when I wear a dress.  Enter bronzing lotion.  I have a few already, but this one is nice and subtle.  It's not too bronzing or too shimmery, plus it smells awesome.  To me, it smells like vanilla and coconut.  To the boys at work it smells like: cupcakes, vanilla frosting, birthday cake, rice crispy treats (yeah, it kinda does, actually), and just all around deliciousness.  They couldn't stop talking about how good I smelled at lunch.  Ladies, take note: wear this and get lots of male attention because you smell like baked goods.

This 2fl.oz. size sells for $7.

Yaby Concealer Refill in Buff
Photo from Ipsy

For once, Ipsy matched my skin tone (closely enough).  There is one shade lighter than this (vanilla), but they say to pick a concealer that is a little darker than your skin tone, right?  This works pretty well on my slight under eye circles, and I haven't tried it on anything else.  Trying to cover up each individual freckle I have seems obnoxiously tedious.  Most days I don't even bother with concealer, but at least now I have one in case I want to use it! I didn't before and had been meaning to pick one up when this arrived.  It'll do.  Plus, it is magnetic and fits into the case they sent in March.

3.5g (20mm pan diameter) $4.85.

Zoya Nailpolish in Piaf (yellow, far right)
Photo from Ipsy

The purple on the far left is called Julie.  I think that if a customer had the name of a polish in this collection, they should have sent it to that person! I would have MUCH rather gotten the purple with my name on it than the ugly yellow that I'll never be able to wear.  Gross.  It's a pretty glass-type glittery finish, which I'm sure is lovely in the other colors.  Oh well.

This was full size, 0.5 fl.oz. $8.

Mirabella Perfecting Powder in Translucent
Photo from Ipsy

This is in my Ipsy top 5.  I have used up about 2/3 of this, and I've used it every day since I got it.  I'll be sad when it runs out! It really does buff into your skin to give a flawless finish.  I love it.  I can't speak highly enough of it.

Full size $30 (4g), this is 1.3g and worth $9.75.


There was a wide variety of products that were sent out this month.  It looks like everyone got a nail polish and a concealer, and three other items.  The other options were: Anastasia mini clear brow gel, Pacifica luminizing body butter, Pacifica Island Vanilla & Tahitian Gardenia Perfume Rollerball, Macadamia Hair Healing Oil Treatment, NUME Finishing Serum, Mirabella Colour Sheers Lipstick, St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion, Mirabella Shimmeratti Glimmer Gloss, Mirabella Lip Lustre Liner.

Total Value $44.60 (using $15 for the lip gloss).

There was a decent variety of items included in this bag, and most of them were really great! I do wish the gloss and nail polish were different colors, but I like the lotion and perfecting powder so much that its value far exceeded its $10 price tag for the bag.

Ipsy costs $10/month, including shipping, and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn a free item if 2 people sign up with my link.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

Retrospective: Ipsy March 2013

Ipsy March 2013: Month 7; Red Carpet Ready

Ipsy Bag March 2013
Photo from Ipsy

This month's bag is so cute! It has a white interior and is navy and white stripes with little anchors all over it.  I'm from RI and I have lived here most of my life, so I have a thing for anchors.  It's on our state flag, along with our state motto: HOPE.  Nice and simple, right?

Mini Freestyle GlamRx Magnetic Palette with Mirror
Photo from Ipsy

This magnetic palette is the only good thing about the bag this month, besides the bag itself.  The whole bottom is magnetic so you can rearrange products as needed.  It also has a mirror and is small enough to fit in my makeup bag without taking up much room.  Too bad I am too lazy to depot the things I like, and all the magnetic singles I have suck! I did put my Mirabella eyeshadow pan in it (from Ipsy September 2012).

The "freestyle" palette on their website is $9.95 and looks to be the same as what I got in this bag. They also sell a double-decker for $16.50.

LA Fresh Makeup Remover Wipes
Photo from Ipsy

These are good for lazy people like me.  However, I am still too lazy to use them, as I shower at night and take all my makeup off then.  I bring these on vacations in case I need to touch up my face before going out at night.  I haven't been on vacation for more than 2 nights since I got this particular pack, though, so I have a number left.

There were 8 wipes in the sample size, which LA Fresh sells for $2.50.

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist
Photo from Ipsy

UGH.

Cat pee scented.  Lovely.

Full size (WHY, PEOPLE) is $22 for 200 mL.  Sample is 30 mL of nasty with a value of $3.30.  

Yaby Eyeshadow in Sand Dune
Photo from Ipsy

Yaby Eyeshadow in Teal (So Vein? Maybe that is the color name)
Photo from Ipsy

See above link to my least favorite products.  I hate these. SO MUCH.

Yaby sells individual eyeshadow refill pans (3?!g) for $3.15.  I wonder if they are including the weight of the pan itself in that.  There is no way that tiny sub-dime-sized shadow is 3 full grams.

ASSUMING these are full-sized, the value for the two would be $6.30.

Total Value $22.35

Not only has this been the lowest valued Ipsy bag I have received, it is also my least favorite.  I liked the bag.  The palette is ok.  That's about it.  Oh well, you win some and you lose some.  All my other awesome months made up for this loser.


Ipsy costs $10/month, including shipping, and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn a free item if 2 people sign up with my link.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

Retrospective: Birchbox April 2013

See my first Retrospective for the answers to the quiz that I used.

April 2013: Month 14

Beauty Protector, Protect and Detangle
Photo from Birchbox

I've written about this before.  It's awesome and smells fantastic.  End of story.

$21.95 for 8 fl.oz. Sample was 1 ounce (?), worth $2.74

Caudalie S.O.S. Morning Eye Rescue
Photo from Birchbox

I don't really know if this did anything for me, as I only have slight dark circles and minimal puffiness in the mornings, but I used this up.  Meh.  I'm only 26, I don't really need an eye cream (yet).

$34 for 15 mL.  Sample was 1.5 mL, worth $3.40 (yay, easy math).

Juice Beauty CC Cream
Photo from Birchbox

$39 for 50 mL  Yuck.  Sample was 5 mL, worth $3.90 and not worth my time.

Yes to Cucumbers Face Towelettes
Photo from Birchbox

I didn't get these in my box, so BB credited me points instead.  I'll take it. (I don't think anyone got these in their boxes, actually).

Yes to Grapefruit Correct and Repair Daily Facial Scrub
Photo from Birchbox

This came in a weird pod non-foil cardboard sample thing.  It also had a sample of the dark spot correcting serum with it.  They smelled good, I really like grapefruit scents (I dislike the fruit though), and it was an adequate face scrub.  I don't remember many scrubby things in it, though, but my memory could be fuzzy.

$9.99 for 4 oz. I don't even think there was enough of either of these to be worth more than $0.50 total, combined.

Yes to Carrots Lip Butter in Citrus
Photo from Birchbox

This is a very smooth lip butter! It lives up to its name and applies like any high quality balm should.  I was really impressed and it is at work so I always have something to put on my lips.  I would have preferred a different scent, but the citrus one I got is fine.

4 tubes retails for $9.99.  Value of one tube $2.50

Total Value $13.04

This is a pretty low value box, but there were some really nice products in it.  They also sent a card for a free year of Women's Health magazine ($9.99 value), which I have been enjoying.  That would bump the value up to $23.03, and there should have been face wipes also included.  The beauty protector made this box totally worth it! I used my BB points to buy the full size and am so glad I did.  It's amazing and the scent lasts until the next time I wash my hair!


Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

Retrospective: Birchbox April 2012

Without any subscription boxes coming in, and with me being too lazy to get off my butt and look though my cabinet to pick something to write a review about, I figured I would go through all my past Birchboxes and do a retrospective review of the products.

Here is what my profile looks like (and has always looked like):

My level of beauty knowledge is: Dedicated enthusiast: I love learning and exploring

I can never have too many: Haircare products, makeup products, nail polishes

For me, fragrance samples are: Not my favorite- please send me no more than 6 fragrance samples per year

I'd love to see more of these types of extras in my Birchbox: Organic and natural products, small acessories 

I am signing up for Birchbox because: I want samples, samples, samples!; I'm looking to experiment and change my beauty routine

My beauty style is: Classic- I err on the side of traditional, think Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn; Low-maintenance- I tend to be pretty natural and don't spend much time getting ready

My hair is: Curly, dry, too short for a ponytail

My hair is closest to: Blonde

I do the following to my hair: Color treat, curl with a curling iron, straighten with a flat iron, always let it air dry- why mess with nature?

My ethnicity is: White or caucasian

My skin tone is: Fair

My complexion is best described as: Normal

I am most concerned about: Cellulite, hyper-pigmentation or dark spots, sun protection

My day of birth is: 1987

Birchbox has you fill out this profile, and whether or not they take it into consideration when they send products is another thing all together.

April 2012.  Month 2.

After my amazing first ever Birchbox the month before, I couldn't wait for April's goodies to show up in my mailbox!

Amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask
Photo from Birchbox

This was nice.  I had long hair at the time, but I was still able to get two full uses out of the packet they sent.  It made my hair very soft and smelled really good.  That's all I remember.  I didn't get a full-size, so I must not have been blown away.

Full size 500 mL for $40.  Sample size was 20 mL for a value of $1.60

Dropps Laundry Detergent pack
Photo from Birchbox

This was in my Birchbox least favorite 5.  It was just fine for a convenient washing machine pack, but I was a little weirded out seeing it in a beauty subscription box next to some nail polish and a hair mask.

Full size $6/ 20 drops.  Value of a single drop is $0.30.

Zoya TRUE Spring Collection in Lotus
Photo from Birchbox

This is a nice muted purple with some slight pink shimmer to it.  My favorite way to wear it is with Julep Brooke over it (a sheer purple microglitter) to bring out the shimmer.  Zoya makes a really nice nail polish and has great wear time.

Full size 0.5 oz for $8, sample size 0.25 oz valued at $4.

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift
Photo from Birchbox

I actually pulled this out of my perfume sample grab bag and wore it yesterday.  It wasn't terrible, but it did fade faster than some of the other (more expensive) perfume samples I use.  At least once a week I try to spritz myself with a random sample so I don't feel bad that they are sitting in a big jar on my dressing being neglected.  This is just meh.  Not much of anything going on.  It's fruity and flowery.  Nothing musky or woody.  Very appropriate for a teenage girl, if I ever happen to age backward.

Full size $59.50/100 mL.  Assuming the sample is a standard 1.5 mL, it has a value of $0.89.

Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer
Photo from Birchbox

I have a love/hate relationship with Juice Beauty.  Most of their stuff I love, but when I hate something, I really hate it.  This moisturizer was nice, and I remember it smelling really good.  I am lucky enough to have good skin, without any problems, so I am not very picky about my face creams.  I use one every morning and night, but I don't have to shop for particular ingredients, or avoid others.  This was nice.  I'd gladly accept another sample of it.

Full size $28.00/2 fl. oz.  Sample size 0.17 oz for a value of $2.38.



Total Value: $9.17

Again, under the $10 I paid, but the 50 points for reviews more than made up the difference.  3 out of the 5 samples were things that I liked, one was a total miss, and one was a perfume sample.  I just don't really like getting them.



Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

Least 5 Favorite Ipsy Items

My 5 Least Favorite Ipsy/My Glam Samples

Photo from Ipsy

Photo from Ipsy

#5: Yaby Eyeshadow Refills (May 2013)
I received teal (left) and sand dune (right) and they are awful. Seriously, these are bad eyeshadows. They look like they are pigmented, but then it falls all over your face and you end up with nothing. Sand dune is a mustardy yellow that is the exact color of an almost-faded bruise. This means it accentuates my slight under-eye circles. Gross. The teal is an ok color, I have used it as an eyeliner in a pinch, but it takes forever to wash out of my brushes. I just don't like these.

Photo from Ipsy

#4: Starlet Intense Eyeliner in Chocolate (November 2012)
Granted, this goes on a lot more easily when it is 90 degrees outside instead of 30, but I still don't like it. This liner pulls at my lids and, despite the name, is not very intense. I'll stick to my UD 24/7 liners. They have much more color payoff and stay put all day. This disappears as soon as I apply eyeshadow over it.

Photo from Ipsy

Lip Bomb.  Gross.  Sorry guys, but you need to feel my pain!

#3: Mirenesse Lip Bomb (October 2012)
This is a bomb, for sure. It is super thick and it is way too easy to apply too much. I received a very light, chalky pink color that looks just like I smeared Pepto Bismol all over my lips. It settles into every line, real or not, and doesn't have the promised minty taste. I don't think it plumps as advertised, and I hate it so much that I haven't tested its longevity claims. The only way this is wearable is if I wipe 99% of the product off of my lips. Even then, it is not the right shade for me.

Photo from Ipsy

Glitter disease!

#2: J. Cat Sparkling Cream Palette (June 2013)
I'm 26 and have absolutely no place that it would be appropriate for me to wear sparkles on my skin. I would have worn this to homecoming when I was 14. I might be able to wear it on halloween. That's about it! It's tough to apply and gets everywhere, not to mention that the glitter is not technically eye-safe. It's not eye-unsafe, but still. This is a dud.

Photo from Ipsy

#1: Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist (March 2013)
When Juice Beauty has a bad-smelling product, they REALLY have a bad-smelling product. I was on an IV antibiotic called cefepime a few times and it smelled just like cat pee. This has that same terrible smell. Why I would spray cat pee (or something that smells like cat pee) on my face is beyond me. This isn't South Park, and cheesing isn't cool. Gross. I would feel bad giving this away, so it is sitting in my closet until the next time I have a head cold and can dump it down the drain without gagging.


Still want to try Ipsy? It is $10 a month and my referral link is here.

This posts contains products that I purchased through Ipsy.  All opinions are my own.  This post also contains a referral link.  If two people sign up for Ipsy using my link, I get a bonus item.

Least 5 Favorite Birchbox Items

My 5 Least Favorite Birchbox Products
Besides almost every fragrance sample ever sent to me, these are my five least favorite items received through Birchbox.

Photo from Birchbox

#5. Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls  (May 2013)
This just did not work for my hair.  I have curly hair, yes, but I like my ringlets to be soft and touchable.  If that means a little frizz, fine.  This smelled like a laundromat and made my hair crunchy and my curls did not stay together, if you know what I'm trying to describe.  It made everything look very strand-y and 90's.  If I wanted to look like I had 90's hair, I'd spend $2.50 on some LA Looks. Not my HG curl product.

Photo from Birchbox

#4 Dropps Laundry Detergent Concentrated Pack (April 2012)
Um, bad choice of "Lifestyle Extra," BB.  Luckily, I'm not sensitive to scents in my detergents.  This smelled fine, and did its job well, but I don't subscribe to a beauty box in hopes of getting my clothes cleaner.  What's next? Tide dishwasher pods? I don't even have a dishwasher! I'm glad I at least have a washer/dryer!  Had this come in a different type of sub box, I wouldn't have had a problem with it.  It just looks out of place next to nail polish and perfume vials.

Photo from Birchbox

#3 LA FRESH Nail Polish Remover Pad (September 2012)
I like nail polish.  I'm also a chemist and I have an affinity for acetone.  I practically shower in the stuff at work, so I don't have a problem with using it to remove my polish.  I just make sure to keep my hands, cuticles, and nails hydrated.  This nail polish remover pad smelled great, and I do like the convenience of the individual packets for traveling- I buy the all acetone Rite Aid brand.  However, aside from the convenience factor, these sucked.  They left behind a very oily residue and did not even remove all of my polish.  I had to go back over everything with a cotton ball and acetone.  Waste of time.

Photo from Birchbox

#2 S.W. Basics Beeswax Lip Balm in Cocoa (October 2012)
Had BB sent me a different flavor, like cinnamon (mmm), I would have been over the moon with this sample.  However, this is representative of a larger theme within my BB products- terrible scents/colors.  This is the most offensive example.  I just don't like the smell of raw cocoa butter- to me it smells like a hamster cage that needs to be cleaned.  It's disgusting.  This lip balm is amazing and in terms of texture and hydration and staying-power, it's one of the best I have tried.  I just can only use it when I have a stuffy nose, and hope that other people aren't offended that I smell like a pet store.

Photo from Birchbox

#1 Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream (April 2013)
Juice Beauty is a great brand and I love the moisturizer I received in the June Popsugar Must Have box.  That one smells like lemonade and has a handy pump to keep the rest of the product sanitary.  Fantastic.  So, I know that this brand can make a good face product, and I just don't know what happened with this CC cream. It has no coverage, is very thick, but at the same time, almost airy, like a mousse.  It's a confusing texture.  It also smells like butt.  Their products are made with organic ingredients and are mostly plant-based (juices and oils).  I really like that about this company.  Too bad I really hate this CC cream.  If it had good coverage, it would be one thing.  If the scent faded quickly, it would be another.  Neither is true.  I gave away the two additional samples of this that came with the moisturizer in the June PSMH.


If I somehow have convinced you to sign up for BB, it is $10/month and this is my referral link.

This post contains items that I purchased through Birchbox.  All opinions are my own. This post also contains a referral link.  For each person who signs up for BB using my link, I receive 50 BB points.